Justin Edinburgh is confident his players have what it takes to stop the division’s in-form team.

The Gills boast League 1’s best home record and face a Barnsley side on Saturday who have won their last seven in the league.

Victory this weekend will go a long way to wiping the memories of their last meeting with Barnsley, losing 2-0 with a substandard performance in September.

“That performance was well below the standards we set,” said Edinburgh. “We went out with a whimper and I don’t think we were where we should be.

“That came off the back of our first defeat, at Colchester, but we have grown up a lot since then and learnt a lot about ourselves. This team have improved immensely since that day, mentally and physically and performance-wise.

“I have always said, we are doing it the hard way. We are learning on our feet, as a young group in the top four of the table all year.

“Sometimes not enough credit is given to this team but that is fine, we accept it. We continue to do what we are doing and Barnsley know they are going to be playing against a vastly-improved team.

“They may say the same but they will certainly be in for a tougher game than they had at their ground.”

Gills have only lost once at Priestfield and their home record is one Edinburgh is rightly proud of.

He said: “There is nobody with a better home record than us – 11 wins, three draws and one defeat. We are proud of that record and have to try and maintain it.”